Epheaim e



(No Model.)

B. E. WEAVER.

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR FOR LETTER BOXES.

No. 329,245. Patented Oct. 27, 1885.

m WJ N. PETERS. Phulu-Lflhogmpher. Washington, 11C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EPHRAIM E. VE AVER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PETER I.FITZGERALD, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR FOR LETTER-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,245, dated October27, 1885.

Application filed December 4, 1884. Serial No. 149,483. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, EPHRAIM E. WEAVER, of Philadelphia, in the State ofPennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inElectrical Indicators for Letter- Boxes, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is directed to that kind of letter-box which contains acircuit-closer in circuit with an alarm or indicator, and so arrangedthat the letter or parcel, when dropped into the box, will act upon saidcircuit-closer in such manner as to cause it to close the circuit andput in operation the alarm or ind-icator. 1t frequently happens thatparcels are 1 delivered by post or otherwise which are too large to beplaced in the box, and consequently in such a case it is impracticableto actuate the circuit-closer within the box. To meet this emergency Icombine with the box and automatic circuit-closer therein a manual keyor circuit-closer, which is external to the box and in a branch of thecircuit. The postman or other person delivering the parcel can underthis arrangement close the circuit by hand, and thus announce to theowner of the box that the parcel has been delivered. It is this featurethat mainly characterizes my improve ment. I have also improved theconstruction and arrangement of the circuit-closing devices within thebox, and have provided a means whereby the occupant of the distant roomin which the alarm or indicator is placed can break the circuit at thatpoint, so as to stop the alarm, if desired. 5 The nature of theinvention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in whieh- Figure l is a perspective view of the letterbox withthe front partly broken away and with the circuit-connections and alarmor indicator. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the box.

The letter-box itself (lettered A) is of any suitable construction andconfiguration. In this instance it has a slit in the top for theintroduction of letters. Within it is a platform, 13, of any suitablematerial, (usually wood or paper-board) which at its rear is carried bya metallic spring tongue or strip, a, attached to the back of the box,and of suflicient flexibility to permit the platform to drop at itsfront end under the weight of a letter.

An inclined deflecting-plate, Z), above the platform, directs the letterdropped into the box to the front of the platform, and a ledge, c, atthe 5 front edge of the latter, prevents the letter from sliding off atthat point. Beneath the platform B, and in proximity thereto, is theflexible horizontal end of the bent metallic conductingstrip d, whichforms one of the contact-pieces of the circuit-closer. The vertical stemof this strip is attached to the bottom of the box, and is electricallyconnected to the external binding-post f. The other contact-piece of thecircuit-closer is the vertical post 6, which is placed beneath and inproximity to the free end of the strip (Z, and

is electrically connected to the external binding-post g. Thecontact-post 6 can be made adjustable, as customary, so as to set it atany desired distance from the contact-strip d.

The construction and arrangement of parts described possesses advantageon the score of efficiency and simplicity. The platform having a lightspring support will yield readily, so as to bear upon the contact-strip(I. At the same time it forms no part of the circuit, and need not havecontact with strip d, unless when the circuit is to be closed.Consequently any slight jarring or other abnormal causes will not besufficient to cause it to act upon the contact-strip d, and thus thereis much less liability of accidentally closing the circuit than therewould be were one of the contacts carried by the platform. 3

From the binding-posts jg extend the circuit-wires h, connecting withthe poles of the battery or generator 0. In the circuit is theelectrical alarm or indicator D, of any approved construction. Inpractice the bell or indicator is located in the office or room of theowner of the box, while the box itself is in the hall of the building.

Frequently parcels are delivered which are too large to be put into thebox, and thus the automatic circuitclosing arrangement therein isineffective. To provide against this contingency, I take from thebinding-posts f g a branch. or derived circuit, h, which can be closedor interrupted. at will by a manual key, E, located on the side of thebox or in convenient proximity thereto. The postman de- ICO livering aparcel too large for the box can by the aid of this switch readilyannounce the delivery of parcels, even if they be too large for the box.This arrangement can also be conveniently used as a means to conveyconventional or agreed-upon signals to the occupant of the room in whichthe indicator is to inform him of presence of onesuch as a foreman,superintendent, or the like-whom he may wish to see.

To enable the receiver of the signal to stop the alarm at anytime beforegoing to the mailboX, a key, F, is provided at or near the alarm D.

Having described my improvement, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is'

l. The combination, with the electric circuit and alarm or indicatortherein, of the let ter-box provided with the spring-supported 20 Intestimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th of November,1884.

EPHRAIM E. XVEAVER. \Vitnesses:

EDGAR T. GADDES, J. \VALTER BLANDFORD.

